San Angelo, TX, WPH Press, 8/31/26
Angelo State University and tournament directors Diarmuid Mulkerrins and Aoife Holden were proud to present the inaugural Angelo State Rams Handball Invitational & R48 and WR48 Pre Qualifiers at the Ben Kelly Center for Human Performance on the campus on Angelo State University. Angelo State University’s four handball courts were recently renovated through a generous gift from Doug Randolph and the Randolph Foundation for Higher Education Inc.
Renovated Handball Courts Opened, Hosting First Tournament HERE
Angelo State’s Coach Holden highlighted the significance of the recent renovations, “the court renovations have transformed the facility, and has given us the opportunity to host tournaments at Angelo State. We were proud to host sixty-six competitors from across the state as well as players from Oklahoma and New Mexico”.
“We are thankful for the support of the WPH, having four ranked pros joined by some of Texas’ most talented players and upcoming collegiate stars provided the students and local supporters with great handball matches. Thanks to Eilish for livestreaming the matches we were able to use a classroom as an overflow area to watch the finals as there was no more space in the galleries” stated fellow Angelo State coach, Diarmuid Mulkerrins.
R48 Rams Pre Qualifier
Semifinals
Mulkerrins def D. Mulkerrins 15-8, 15-8 (Watch HERE)
Doyle def Lucho 15-2, 8-15, 15-9 (Watch HERE)
Final: M. Mulkerrins def Doyle 15-4, 15-6 (Watch HERE)
The inaugural Rams Invitational featured one of the strongest Race 4 Eight Pre Qualifiers in history, with R48 #1 Martin Mulkerrins, R48 #3 Lucho Cordova, R48 #6 Mark Doyle, and R48 #13 Diarmuid Mulkerrins joined by many of college handball’s best in the field.
Martin was clinical against his brother Diarmuid in the upper bracket semifinal, advancing to the final in two games. “I got in to serve quite a bit but kept giving Martin back wall setups off the serve,” lamented Diarmuid.
The blockbuster bottom bracket semifinal featured Lucho and Doyle. Doyle has relocated to Texas A&M for his Master’s program, while Lucho made the drive from his farm in New Mexico. Doyle was on fire in the first, killing nearly every ball he touched. “Mark was just hitting rollers from everywhere in the first,” stated tournament director and referee Diarmuid Mulkerrins. Lucho forced a tiebreaker by winning the second, but Doyle built a lead in the tiebreaker and never allowed Lucho within striking distance to advance to the final.
The final featured a rematch of the 2025 Austin Pete Tyson LTE, where Martin survived a late third-game deficit to deny Doyle the title. Martin would not need any comeback heroics in the Ram final, dominating Doyle from pillar to post to clinch the title. The final featured one of the largest galleries in the history of the Race 4 Eight Pre Qualifier, with the back glass bleachers filled, three rows of standing-only fans in the balcony, and an overflow room watching on the big screen.
The Texas A&M Handball Coach, Martin Mulkerrins, will be the first name inscribed into the Dr. Warren “Spider” Simpson perpetual plaque. A plaque which honors “Spider” for founding the Angelo State Handball program in 2009 and for his commitment to the teams growth.
“It’s an honor for us to be here this weekend, it’s not often we get to celebrate four handball courts being renovated, it really is fantastic for the ASU Handball program” stated Martin in his victory speech Martin. He continued by thanking Doug Randolph for making the renovations possible and to all that made the inaugural Rams Handball Invitational and WPH Pre Qualifier possible.
By virtue of being the highest finisher in the Rams Pre Qualifier not in the Race 4 Eight
Elite 8, Diarmuid Mulkerrins clinched the Pre Qualifier travel stipend and entry, which he will use later in the 2026/27 season after undergoing foot surgery in September.
WR48 Ram Pre Qualifier
Semifinals
Minogue def Sammis (Watch HERE)
Rivers def Behne (Watch HERE)
Final: Minogue def Rivers 15-0, 15-3 (Watch HERE)
Leah Minogue is an up-and-coming star, the previous two-time USHA Collegiate Nationals Women’s Open semi-finalist recently moved from Co. Clare, Ireland, to further her education at Angelo State University. Leah is a graduate student at Angelo State University in the Coaching, Sport, Recreation, and Fitness Administration master’s program. After claiming the title, she thanked everyone who welcomed her and continued to say she is excited for the next two years. Leah Minogue will be the first women’s name added to the Dr. Veronica Snow perpetual plaque, which honors Veronica Snow’s dedication to the Angelo State Handball program.
“We are very excited to have Leah joining us at ASU, she will be a huge addition to the team. It’s a great start to her time here, winning the Women’s Open title, and getting a stipend to help get her to her first pro stop. We not only look forward to working with her on her game, but her working with us too. Leah brings a lot of experience and will be invaluable to improving her teammates skill levels as well as helping to grow the sport at Angelo State” stated Coach Mulkerrins.
Thank you to Angelo State Handball player, Hannah Olson, for the photographs.
JR WPH Clinic at the 2026 Rams Invitational Race 4 Eight Pre Qualifiers
R48 #1 Martin Mulkerrins and R48 #6 led a sensational junior/collegiate JR WPH clinic before the WR48 Ram Pre Qualifier final on Sunday, with Mulkerrins and Doyle explaining and demonstrating the importance of not charging the ball and allowing the ball to drop. Mulkerrins and Doyle also introduced the paddle kill. “Teaching the paddle kill will help these players enormously,” stated San Angelo Handball Head Coach Diarmuid Mulkerrins. “The paddle kill will see these players jump levels.” Much more on the exciting JR WPH Rams clinic coming soon.
“The WPH was thrilled to partner with tournament directors Diarmuid Mulkerrins and Aoife Holden and the Angelo State Handball Team in presenting Race 4 Eight Pre Qualifiers at the inaugural Rams Invitational,” stated the WPH’s David Fink. “The winner of the 2026 Rams Invitational Men’s and Women’s Open Singles earned $300 travel stipends and a free entry to the 2026/27 Race 4 Eight event of his and her choice.”
Pictures courtesy of Hannah Olson
Livestream videos provided by Eilish Owens and Martin Mulkerrins
2026/27 Race 4 Eight Schedule HERE
Race 4 Eight Pre Qualifier Explained HERE
2026/27 Race 4 Eight Rankings Methodology and Rankings HERE
Written by David Fink and Diarmuid Mulkerrins